But the prize was a new patch of Japanese knotweed; it's tiny, no more than five feet across, and it's likely to stay relatively limited because it's on a really dry patch of ground. Although it's probably technically illegal to do so, I helped myself to three poind or so of good, young stems for a batch of wine, which is now happily fermenting in a corner of the kitchen.

The Highways Agency almost killed the patch I used to visit; it'll come back (there are one or two shoots; it will be back!) but not in any quantity, at least not this year. In a sort of twisted way I'm happy to find another little patch.

Got nearly enough water mint for wine; that's frozen till I have enough for a batch.

We found a couple of chicken-of-the-woods and quite a few Jew's Ears. Quite a few of the Ears had dried on the stem of the Elder and I tried soaking one in hot water when I got it how and it expanded just like the shop ones.

We also have a small bag of wild garlic from a patch that's well over the size of a couple of football pitches.